The 2016-17 season is underway, and with it comes the first edition of Talking Hoops with Ted Sarandis here on Hoopville. Here, we talk about first impressions and what to look forward to on the season.

We start with a look at Tuesday night’s Champions Classic, which ended with the best game on the young season as Kansas beat Duke on a late jumper in a terrific back-and-forth game. From there, we talk about four clear top teams at the moment, and how those teams rely on freshmen or veterans to varying degrees, then some early games of note like North Carolina looking impressive and UConn losing two straight. We also touch on how veterans will be key players for teams stacked with young talent, and that has already proven true.

The first weekend of college basketball is in the books. In a weekend that saw several noteworthy results, Yale going up to Seattle and beating Washington 98-90 on Sunday should be right up there with the rest of them. It’s a game whose result has a lot of angles to it.

We’ll start with Yale, the defending Ivy League champs. While Harvard is the clear favorite this year, the Bulldogs entered the season projecting as one of their top challengers. That changed a little when Makai Mason went down with a season-ending injury last week. It’s a big blow to a team that still has good personnel and the dean of coaches in the Ivy, but now others need to do more in Mason’s absence.

As we’ve steadfastly pointed out in the past (and probably will again sometime before the season starts), the college basketball season starts too early, and the sport really has a poorly planned way to start the year, opening with a host of guarantee games in what is still the heart of college football season.

One of the good things about college hoops starting as early as it has in recent years, though, (Nov. 11 this year) is it does allow less time to hear bad news. Because, sad as it is, it seems so much of the news in the offseason with this sport is less than positive. (More unneeded NCAA Tournament and officiating tweaks, anyone?)

Unfortunately, we received more unfortunate news Thursday as it was announced Arizona forward Ray Smith has suffered an ACL injury for the third time in three years. Smith also received meniscus damage in his knee, and with those injuries he has decided to end his basketball career. … Continue Reading

The Pac-12 had quite a season in 2015-16, during which the conference celebrated 100 years of existence. It provided tremendous basketball, even if a fair amount of the country didn’t get to see much of it because of the time difference. And it happened with what appears to be a changing landscape all the way around.

For starters, the Pac-12 was a major presence in the RPI. Only the Big 12 was better in terms of conference RPI, but the Pac-12 placed six teams in the RPI top 50 and 10 in the top 100. Since the NCAA adjusted the formula to account for game location in 2004-05, only 12 conferences have produced a better RPI than the Pac-12 did this season.

George Washington’s experienced core of seniors Patricio Garino, Kevin Larsen and Joe McDonald has accomplished a lot in four years together, so adding another milestone to their careers and to the school’s history books is a fitting ending for the three.

From 13-17 as freshmen to the NCAA Tournament the next year to a small step backwards to the NIT second round a year ago, the trio now has led the Colonials to the NIT Final Four for the first time in school history. GW defeated stubborn Florida 82-77 on Wednesday, holding on to win in a game that featured 14 ties and 19 lead changes. … Continue Reading

For the final time this season, Friday night had a light slate with the Ivy League taking center stage along with the MAC, MAAC and Horizon League. At this time next week, we’ll be talking about conference tournaments as the best month of basketball beckons. For now, though, we can focus on a thinning race and one that was finally locked up on Friday night.

The featured matchup on the evening was a showdown between Columbia and host Princeton at Jadwin Gym. Just one game separated Yale and these two teams entering the night, with Columbia being a game back in the loss column and Princeton a game back in the win column. In a game with plenty of offense, Princeton had more of it, as Columbia shot over 53 percent from the field but allowed Princeton to shoot over 63 percent, including 13-24 from long range, as the Tigers beat the Lions 88-83.

Welcome to the latest edition of Talking Hoops with Ted Sarandis. In it, Ted and I touch on a number of topics as the regular season is about to come to an end in many conferences.

We start by touching on a big win for Xavier, including how Edmond Sumner appears to be a difference-maker for the Musketeers, as well as Villanova’s past NCAA Tournament struggles. We go on to talk about another big win, this time for Miami, and then stay in the ACC to talk about Duke’s Grayson Allen.

It was just another Thursday night in the college basketball season. And so much more.

North and south, east and west, there were high-level games and fantastic finishes last night. We’ve still got more than a month yet until we get to March-including a Leap Year day-but it felt like a snapshot from the greatest basketball month of the year.

Thursday night provided a flurry of activity, good games and most notable results, but few games this year have drawn us in more at the end like the Conference USA tilt between UAB and Old Dominion did.

One-time Sun Belt Conference rivals who now are two of the heavies in C-USA, the Blazers and Monarchs provided captivating theater in the late stages of their game and one of the best finishes of the season. The final act was an offensive rebound under the basket and putback by 5-foot-10 inch UAB guard Nick Norton with 2.3 seconds left in overtime, and a halfcourt shot by ODU’s terrific Trey Freeman went off the back rim, giving the Blazers a 72-71 win.

In truth, USC probably should’ve been being taken seriously even before its 103-101 four-overtime thriller over Arizona yesterday, but you can be sure the Trojans are now.

Even before earning what is a signature win over the Wildcats-at least for the time being; who knows how long that stands in this year’s ultra-competitive Pac-12, where even a flagbearer program like Arizona could win 15 games or eight-USC already had some quality notches on its belt during non-conference play. The Trojans’ resume already was good, and now it certainly looks even better.

Gonzaga might have needed the West Coast Conference title they won in Las Vegas last year in order to be in the NCAA Tournament. With better guards, there should be no doubt about that this time around.

The Big 12 has been on a great run to be the top conference in recent years, including last year. This year will be a challenge due to a big loss of experience throughout the conference.

Hoopville Archives

Hoopville Archives

College Basketball Books

Everybody Needs a Head Coach

Former college basketball coach Mike Jarvis has a new book out, Everybody Needs a Head Coach.

"As you read this book, I hope that Coach Jarvis' experiences inspire you to find your purpose in life."-Patrick Ewing, NBA Hall of Fame center

"Mike Jarvis' is one of my special friends. I am so pleased that he has taken the time to write this fabulous book."-Mike Krzyzewski, Five-time NCAA championship head coach, Duke Blue Devils

"In reading this book, I can see that Mike hasn't lost his edge or his purpose. Readers should take a look at what he has to say."-Jim Calhoun, Three-time NCAA champion, UConn Men's basketball

Review on Hoopville coming soon!

Coaching Changes and NBA Draft Early Entrants

The coaching carousel is moving. Keep track of the latest coaching changes right here on Hoopville.

Also, keep track of players who have declared early for the NBA Draft.

College Basketball Tonight

We hope you enjoyed COLLEGE BASKETBALL TONIGHT during the 2016 NCAA Tournament. COLLEGE BASKETBALL TONIGHT is a comprehensive look at the NCAA Tournament hosted by veteran college basketball broadcaster Ted Sarandis, along with co-hosts Mike Jarvis and Terry O'Connor, both former Division I coaches. It also included many great guests, including Hoopville's own Phil Kasiecki.

The show aired on AM 710 WOR in New York City on Sunday evenings starting with Selection Sunday and running through the NCAA Tournament.